© Matthew Trevithick/980 CFPL
The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has charged a London police officer for failing to provide the necessaries of life for 28 year old Amanda Bolt.
Bolt died in London Police custody in November 2019.
The SIU says Bolt was arrested in her home the morning of Nov. 2 by LPS Officers and brought to the police station then released. Bolt was then arrested again for breaking the conditions of her release.
The following morning, Bolt went into medical distress. She was brought to the hospital and placed on life support, before passing away on Nov. 13.
Following an investigation, the SIU said in a statement there is reasonable ground to charge an officer in relation to the death.
Sgt. Kevin Lui has been charged with one count of failing to provide the necessaries of life.
London police have said in a statement that Lui was transferred to administrative duties directly after the incident; now having been charged, he has been suspended with pay.
London Police Chief Steve Williams said in a press statement that “Provisions of the PSA (Police Services Act) do not allow for suspension without pay under these circumstances” and that he will “continue to assess the appropriateness of the suspension.”
Besides the SIU investigation, Williams said LPS is in their own comprehensive ongoing audit of procedures and processes related to people in custody.
Once the internal investigation is complete, information will be provided to the public.
While Williams said he is unable to comment on any details of the SIU investigation, he is “fully committed to following through on our review” and that they “must let the judicial process run its course.”
Lui was nominated the same year for the Police Services Hero of the Year award with his work to reboot the Joe League, a discontinued basketball-focused community outreach initiative.
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